Will The Bucs Platoon At MLB Once more In 2024?

Ok.J. Britt made a short, but favorable impression as Tampa Bay’s beginning center linebacker final yr, changing Devin White down the stretch. With White not re-signed in free company, Britt is the present favourite to exchange the five-year starter because the full-time Mike linebacker.

Britt began six of the final seven video games of the Bucs’ 2023 season, together with the playoffs, and introduced stability and consistency to the linebacker place that White simply couldn’t ship in his contract yr. Whereas Britt was listed because the starter down the stretch, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles truly platooned Britt and White. Britt, who’s extra of a downhill thumper, was primarily used on first and second downs, whereas Bowles would usually deploy White on third downs and apparent passing downs to make the most of his protection and blitzing potential.

The Bucs love Britt’s skilled demeanor, and after three years primarily as a core particular groups participant, co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Larry Foote appears like he is able to grow to be a full-time beginning linebacker in Tampa Bay this season.

“He’s a severe dude,” Foote mentioned of Britt. “He’s bodily, he’s sort of a throwback. Downhill linebacker, received nice instincts, is aware of the right way to discover the ball. He loves ball, he’s severe, each day he’s early to the conferences. He does a great job learning, figuring out the road changes, the stunts, he communicates. You ask D-linemen, they like that, it helps them play sooner. He’s a real professional, simply desirous about Ok.J. he’s a professional, he loves soccer.”

However in an effort to be an each down participant like Lavonte David, Britt wants to enhance in go protection.

Ok.J. Britt Needs To Be An Each-Down LB For The Bucs

Bucs ILB KJ Britt and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Picture by: USA At this time

If Ok.J. Britt needs to get out of the platoon scenario he was in final yr and play all three downs, he’s going to wish to point out he can deal with every little thing Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles places on his plate. Britt’s PFF protection grade through the time that he began was usually round 60, which is beneath common, aside from a highway sport in opposition to Atlanta the place it rocketed as much as 81.

Britt, who’s coming into a contract yr, is a bodily power and is constant within the run sport along with his positive tackling potential. However in coaching camp he’s going to have to point out Foote and Bowles that he shouldn’t be taken off the sector on any down or play.

“Anytime you’re a Mike linebacker you’re extra bodily,” Foote mentioned. “You’re higher going ahead. What his job goes to be is show to Todd (Bowles) I might be on the sector for all three downs. The peak, weight, measurements and all that stuff are all thrown out the window. Are you able to do it?

“That’s when my job kicks in so far as getting him to grasp his leverage and understanding the protection. When you’re a Mike linebacker you’ve received to show to the coordinator, and this can be a passing league, you’ve received to show to him that I can keep on the sector on third down.”

Bucs Backup LBs SirVocea Dennis And J.J. Russell Are Additionally In The Combine To Begin

Would Todd Bowles contemplate rotating different linebackers with Ok.J. Britt in a platoon scenario like final yr, as he did with Devin White on third downs? Tampa Bay can have SirVocea Dennis going into his second yr and J.J. Russell is heading into his third season. Each linebackers every received one begin final yr and made a great first impression.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Russell began in a single sport final season through the 21-18 win over the Panthers in Week 13 and had seven tackles for loss and a sack. His 71 snaps in that sport have been his solely defensive snaps all season. Dennis began the Colts sport the earlier week and confirmed early on that he has the power in go protection and did fairly nicely when put into a much bigger position due to Lavonte David’s damage at San Francisco.

The center linebacker job is Britt’s to lose, and the full-time position is Britt’s to achieve. Tampa Bay cross-trains loads of  its defensive gamers, whether or not it’s at security, nickel cornerback or the workforce’s linebackers at each the center (Mike) and weakside (Cash) spots.

“The place the league is, it’s 11 personnel so these two guys are interchangeable,” Bucs inside linebackers coach Larry Foote mentioned. “You bought to have the ability to play each spots. I prepare these guys, the entire room, you bought to know each spots if you wish to make this workforce and also you need to play.

Bucs ILB Ok.J. Britt – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

He’s (Dennis) is extra athletic like a Lavonte David, he’s cerebral within the go sport, he does a great job, he was a fantastic blitzer in faculty. He does have a knack at dashing the passer, nevertheless it’s simply competitors time.”

Along with Dennis difficult Britt for enjoying time at Mike linebacker, Foote mentioned that Russell can also be within the operating for an upgraded position.

“Completely,” he mentioned. “When you’re on this room, each day you go on the market you audition. He stepped up for us large time final yr, I don’t know when you keep in mind however Ok.J. received damage early and we needed to throw a DB (Ryan Neal) in there [versus Carolina]. He did a great job speaking, and that’s what you need.

“You need these guys to have the ability to talk, don’t miss a beat, and the starters, the previous guys, they demand that from you, so these guys received to be prepared when your identify is named. He did a fantastic job for us. He’s bodily, he’s a professional man, he’s prepared.”